A ferry which had been stranded on a sandbank was allowed to sail to France before its hull was checked for damage by divers.

The MV Dieppe was delayed for another eight hours when French authorities refused to let the vessel sail again until its hull had been given a full inspection.

Passengers were allowed to board in Dieppe but were kept waiting on board until the divers' survey was completed.

The ferry had already been allowed to carry passengers across the Channel after being freed from the sandbank.

The 17,500-tonne ship had been stuck for almost two hours, north-east of the main harbour at Newhaven after it shuddered to a halt at 7.50am on Monday.

Its crew had to wait for the tide to rise before they could get the vessel free under its own power.

The Dieppe was then allowed to make its return journey to France.

It had been scheduled to leave Dieppe at 4.30pm on Monday but it was not allowed to set off for Newhaven until 12.45am yesterday.

Passengers were given free cups of tea and coffee and snacks while the inspection was carried out.

Matt Russell, from Brighton, who was on the ferry with his family, said: "We were all right as we had a cabin and the children went to sleep.

"There were plenty of passengers getting very frustrated. We were not kept fully informed. I was told they had found a small crack in the hull which had to be repaired."

The ferry finally arrived in Newhaven 11 hours late after waiting outside the port for an hour.

The Dieppe is operated by the French-run company Transmanche, which is also involved in the running of the port of Newhaven.

Questions are being asked over why it was allowed to make the 64-mile sea crossing to Dieppe, with cars and passengers on board, when its hull had not been fully inspected by divers at Newhaven.

Lewes MP Norman Baker, who represents Newhaven, said: "I am concerned to hear a ferry was allowed to leave port after running aground with no inspection of the hull by divers. We all want to see a reliable and safe all year round ferry service on this route."

Steve Forrest, operations manager for Transmanche, said: "The Maritime and Coastguard Agency in England and the French authorities would not allow a ferry to sail if they were not satisfied it was safe.

"It was delayed in France while the hull was fully inspected."